Adopting Chinese/Kanji characters into English

[Ash]

So I've been thinking, what if we started using Chinese characters in English? There is a large amount of overlap between Kanji and Hanzi/Chinese. For example "車" means "car" in both Japanese and Traditional Chinese, so there is no reason why it couldn't mean that in English too.

China also has multiple spoken languages that can't understand each other, but if they write something down it is mutually intelligible. Japan already uses three (four if you count Romaji) writing systems together, so mixing different systems wouldn't be a problem either.

Start teaching kids Chinese characters in school and we could probably have people reading it in one or two generations in the west.

[s w e k]

What would be the purpose of adopting Kanji and Hanzi into English when we already have English equivalents?

[WhispersOfTheWind]

Escrito originalmente por Jej:

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

Well if we want a global language, returning to Latin would probably be the fairest option. Almost nobody speaks it so everyone would have to learn a new language.

Multiple attempts at a world language have failed H A R D with Esperanto being the only one with the slightest bit of ground to it.

And even that failed miserably. There will never be a singular language. No sane person wants to sacrifice theirs for the sake of efficiency. English might not be perfect but it's more than usable.

That's an oxymoron right?

Saying that English failed as a world language but then claiming that it's more than usable?

The way, yeah the way I see it it's the only way.

English is an International - Intelligent language one day we will all speak.

And God... but, what will God do then?

[Jej]

Escrito originalmente por s w e k:

What would be the purpose of adopting Kanji and Hanzi into English when we already have English equivalents?

This kinda reminds me of those weebs who insist on replacing some words in an english sentence with Japanese because they think it looks cool but ultimately makes others really confused and makes the person who unfittingly rammed a language into another look like a complete tit.

[Ash]

Escrito originalmente por s w e k:

What would be the purpose of adopting Kanji and Hanzi into English when we already have English equivalents?

Emoji are already sort of a dry run of that, tbh. If you can condense an entire word down into a single character it saves space. Emoji are mostly seen as silly and fun, but there are some serious linguistic implications to them.

[Jej]

Escrito originalmente por HellsWind:

That's an oxymoron right?

Saying that English failed as a world language but then claiming that it's more than usable?

The way, yeah the way I see it it's the only way.

English is an International - Intelligent language one day we will all speak.

And God... but, what will God do then?

I never said that English was to become a world language. In fact it'd be a pretty bad idea if that was the case.

However when it comes to flexibility English does have the upper hand.

[Ash]

Escrito originalmente por Jej:

Escrito originalmente por s w e k:

What would be the purpose of adopting Kanji and Hanzi into English when we already have English equivalents?

This kinda reminds me of those weebs who insist on replacing some words in an english sentence with Japanese because they think it looks cool but ultimately makes others really confused and makes the person who unfittingly rammed a language into another look like a complete tit.

It is forced in that case. But we cram Latin into our primarily Germanic language all the time.

[Jej]

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

Escrito originalmente por Jej:

This kinda reminds me of those weebs who insist on replacing some words in an english sentence with Japanese because they think it looks cool but ultimately makes others really confused and makes the person who unfittingly rammed a language into another look like a complete tit.

It is forced in that case. But we cram Latin into our primarily Germanic language all the time.

Yet you want to cram a language that has completely unfitting characteristics into others that REALLY don't fit. It's possible to cram say...Spanish and German and still retain some sense of normalcy even though both come from completely different bases.

Shoving kanji and mandarin in languages which feature neither makes no sense whatsoever.

In fact shoving Japanese characters into Chinese and vice versa also wouldn't make sense.

[Mad Scientist]

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

Escrito originalmente por Mr. Gentlebot:

The thread comes across as that in general. Most people from the west/1st world countries do not want to have numerous languages as it's a huge mess, then you need to start paying more to print everything in multiple languages, then paying for translation services. Nope.

So I'm curious as to what country you're from and why you think this would ever be a good idea.

Europe has multiple languages and it works just fine. Chinese characters would work as nouns and verbs in most if not all languages too. I am born and raised in Canada by the way.

Europe is a hot mess in regard to mixing cultures, clearly that's not working out well for them.
Why would a born and raised canadian be pushing for chinese in a country that is not asian let alone chinese? Again, most 1st world/western countries do not want this, and you're not giving actual good reasons for it. Trying to compare chinese characters to emoji as a "dry run" was really absurd as well.

So what's the real reason why you want this to be a thing?

[s w e k]

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

Escrito originalmente por s w e k:

What would be the purpose of adopting Kanji and Hanzi into English when we already have English equivalents?

Emoji are already sort of a dry run of that, tbh. If you can condense an entire word down into a single character it saves space. Emoji are mostly seen as silly and fun, but there are some serious linguistic implications to them.

I don't know if that's quite the same because emojis are a series of expressions. They aren't part of a language with an already established system and already established rules. I guarantee if I were to show someone who spoke German a thumbs up and smiley face, they'd know I'm telling them "good job" because that's a universal expression.

However, Kanji and Hanzi are part of an already established language system with its own rules that aren't universal. You can't simply plug it into English.

[WhispersOfTheWind]

Escrito originalmente por Jej:

Escrito originalmente por HellsWind:

That's an oxymoron right?

Saying that English failed as a world language but then claiming that it's more than usable?

The way, yeah the way I see it it's the only way.

English is an International - Intelligent language one day we will all speak.

And God... but, what will God do then?

I never said that English was to become a world language. In fact it'd be a pretty bad idea if that was the case.

However when it comes to flexibility English does have the upper hand.

All of our existing culture is already based on English, we can not brush it away so simply.

We need to unite and to be able to communicate and to understand each other perfectly or just conflicts will keep happening like little sparks at a metal shop or indoors at a work space.

[Ash]

Escrito originalmente por Jej:

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

It is forced in that case. But we cram Latin into our primarily Germanic language all the time.

Yet you want to cram a language that has completely unfitting characteristics into others that REALLY don't fit. It's possible to cram say...Spanish and German and still retain some sense of normalcy even though both come from completely different bases.

Shoving kanji and mandarin in languages which feature neither makes no sense whatsoever.

The Japanese have been doing it for well over a thousand years. Most Kanji are appropriated Chinese characters, and just look up the history of Katakana (it was actually originally a constructed writing system exclusively for women because women weren't really supposed to know how to read or write in Japan back then).

[s w e k]

Escrito originalmente por Mr. Gentlebot:

Europe is a hot mess in regard to mixing cultures

How so? Because Europe has never been one monolithic culture and they certainly have never been "united". Do you have any idea how many wars Europeans have fought amongst themselves?

[Ash]

Escrito originalmente por Mr. Gentlebot:

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

Europe has multiple languages and it works just fine. Chinese characters would work as nouns and verbs in most if not all languages too. I am born and raised in Canada by the way.

Europe is a hot mess in regard to mixing cultures, clearly that's not working out well for them.
Why would a born and raised canadian be pushing for chinese in a country that is not asian let alone chinese? Again, most 1st world/western countries do not want this, and you're not giving actual good reasons for it. Trying to compare chinese characters to emoji as a "dry run" was really absurd as well.

So what's the real reason why you want this to be a thing?

The real reason is I think it's a neat idea. It isn't like I'm getting paid by the CCP to post this idea on Steam OT forums.

Escrito originalmente por s w e k:

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

Emoji are already sort of a dry run of that, tbh. If you can condense an entire word down into a single character it saves space. Emoji are mostly seen as silly and fun, but there are some serious linguistic implications to them.

I don't know if that's quite the same because emojis are a series of expressions. They aren't part of a language with an already established system and already established rules. I guarantee if I were to show someone who spoke German a thumbs up and smiley face, they'd know I'm telling them "good job" because that's a universal expression.

However, Kanji and Hanzi are part of an already established language system with its own rules that aren't universal. You can't simply plug it into English.

Language constantly evolves, and will continue to evolve. There is no "established system".
Also if you are ever in Iran or Turkey never give a "thumbs up" or you might get punched in the face.

[Jej]

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

The real reason is I think it's a neat idea.

Sorry dude but "neat" doesn't always mean doable. You might think it's neat while many others can disagree.

I think cars shouldn't have assists yet I don't proclaim or claim it's a solution to a problem it as it would be a bad idea.

[Ash]

Escrito originalmente por Jej:

Escrito originalmente por 🌈☆🎀 𝒜𝓈𝒽𝑒:

The real reason is I think it's a neat idea.

Sorry dude but "neat" doesn't always mean doable. You might think it's neat while many others can disagree.

I think cars shouldn't have assists yet I don't proclaim it as it would be a bad idea.

Nothing wrong with disagreeing as long as people keep it civil. I made this thread to discuss the idea, fully expecting that most would disagree with me.